Monday August 10th

Readers,
My birthday has arrived and ushered in a new decade of my life: my 20s. This both excites and worries me. It excites me because it seems that older people always reflect on their 20s as the best time of their lives. It worries me that I only have 10 years to make the most of it. But no matter what, I can walk around with just a touch bit more of entitlement knowing that my age begins with a 2 rather than a 1. Exciting things lay ahead this next decade. Legal drinking, renting a car, marriage, being elected the youngest Congressman in United States history, are just a few things that come to mind. I love birthdays, especially mine. But being the cynic that I am, I am choosing to profile the one and only aspect of birthdays that I do not enjoy. Which bring us to our Daily Topic: HAPPY BIRTHDAY



When I say Happy Birthday, I am referring to what the Guinness Book of World Records claims to be the most famous song in the world. The song, written by two Kentucky sisters, both kindergarten teachers, originally as "Good Morning to You," was copyrighted in 1935 and the Birth Tree Group Limited was formed solely to protect and enforce the song's copyrighted status. Now I had known at one point that the song was copyrighted, but seeing it credited recently in a movie made me do some research and some thinking. In 1998, Time-Warner purchased the rights to the Birthday Song for $25 million and it is estimated that the song brings in about $2 million in royalties. This six note, six word song makes $2 million a YEAR. First, I am not sure whether to be appalled or utterly impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit of the song. Second, I have decided it's the former. Third, can you really say that the song is copyrightable if 1/7 of the words in the song change each time it is sung? I vote no. Lastly, I have decided that I am rather looking forward to my 41st birthday in 2030 when the copyright on Happy Birthday runs out and I can finally be rightfully sung a true and proper birthday song at a restaurant without any legality issues whatsoever.
20
-ROF

Daily Food: Birthday Cake

Daily Activity: Celebrating, clearly

Daily Song: The Birthday Song

Daily Attire: Birthday Suit

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: It's My 20th Birthday

Daily News No One Should Care About: It's Aly Bullock's Half Birthday

Daily Life Goal: Have Marylin Monroe Sing Me Happy Birthday

Daily Complaint: 365 Long, Long Days

Daily Drink: Coke

Daily Television: Entourage

Daily Book: Woodstock Revisited - Susan Reynolds